Job Description

The Director of The Future School plays a strategic leadership role in bringing the vision of future-ready, enterprise-focused education to life. By fostering entrepreneurial thinking, real-world experiences, and student agency, this role empowers learners to shape their futures, now. The Director designs and leads impactful programmes that develop students' skills, confidence and pathways into employment, self-employment, or business.

• Oversight of Programmes
• Design, deliver and evaluate enterprise and employability programmes aligned with school strategy.
• Lead flagship initiatives, including:
• Enterprise & Employability Week
• Student Careers Fair
• Future School Work Experience
• Embed entrepreneurial learning across the curriculum, enrichment, and co-curricular activities.
• Line manage the Careers Lead to ensure alignment of career education and enterprise goals.
• Conduct annual programme reviews to ensure relevance, quality, and progression.

Mentoring & Student Support

• Provide 1:1 and group coaching to students exploring self-employment or startup ventures.
• Support soft skills development (e.g. communication, confidence, problem-solving).
• Track individual progress using enterprise portfolios and coaching goals.

Community Engagement & Sponsorship

• Build partnerships with entrepreneurs, incubators, HEIs, and local/international businesses.
• Organise real-world learning opportunities such as visits, panels, projects, and internships.
• Source and secure sponsorships to support student initiatives and school enterprise programmes.
• Develop an alumni network to provide mentoring, talks, and work-related opportunities.

Parental & Stakeholder Communication

• Lead parent engagement on enterprise pathways through workshops, newsletters, and briefings.
• Ensure clarity on programme goals, student expectations, and future options.
• Collaborate with SLT and staff to ensure consistent messaging and integration of enterprise across school life.

Marketing, Social Media & Promotion

• Promote The Future School's mission, events and student achievements via social media.
• Showcase impact through platforms such as GEMS4Life, internal communications, and school media channels.
• Work with marketing to highlight enterprise success stories and attract external interest and support.

Programme Expectations

• All eligible students access enterprise or work-related learning opportunities each year.
• Student businesses, projects, and portfolios are developed and tracked.

Skills

• Proven experience in enterprise, youth entrepreneurship, or future skills education
• Qualification in business, education, or enterprise leadership (or equivalent)
• Understanding of mentoring, start-up culture, innovation, and student agency
• Experience working with partners, funders, and sponsors
• Familiarity with employment trends and the evolving world of work
• Strong interpersonal and coaching skills

• Effective communicator and confident public speaker
• Creative, proactive, and solutions-focused
• High-level organisation, planning and reporting skills
• Collaborative team player with attention to detail
• Willing to go above and beyond to drive innovation and impact.

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.

Skills Required